PHOTO: youtube fair use video screenshot R Kelly 2 28 2019
R Kelly was arrested for multiple sexual assault charges, spent the weekend in custody, pled not guilty and then got bailed out. After the Lifetime movie Surviving R Kelly aired, a new momentum was built and has come to pass. After Donald Trump adversary, Lawyer Michael Avenatti, turned over a sex tape that allegedly shows R Kelly with a fourteen year old, Kelly was arrested and charged in Chicago. Authorities charged more than just the alleged 14-year old on the tape, but also for three other women. Meanwhile, Avenatti claims he represents other R Kelly victims and is securing other alleged sex tapes to turn over to law enforcement. Kelly’s lawyer is Steve Greenberg and he says the women are liars and Avenatti and Gloria Allred, who also claims to represent R Kelly victims, are grandstanders. Greenberg also revealed Kelly has experienced bad contracts, bad deals, mismanagement and hangers-on and that’s made money so tight that Kelly couldn’t just make the 10% of the $1 million bond immediately.
So how did R Kelly make bail? A 47-year old entrepreneur put up R Kelly’s bail, and she said Kelly’s not a monster but her friend and that’s why she bailed him out. Valencia Love owns a daycare center. Wow!! A statement online attributed to Love says she doesn’t condone abuse and assault. And, there are three sides to the story: Kelly’s, the accusers and the truth. Meanwhile, where does Kelly go when he walked out of custody after making bail? McDonald’s of course! Kelly also took pics with fans. Yes, fans still ran up to him for selfies. Some media outlets are saying if Kelly took pics with underage girls at The McDonald’s that may have automatically violated his bond conditions. Kelly’s got to be careful not to violate because he could be locked up for however long it takes to bring this case to trial, which could be years.
Wendy Williams is returning to her show this Monday, March 4th, but what will she say? First, The Queen Of All Media has dropped the Hunter from her last name, as in her husband Kevin Hunter. The duo’s still together despite being plagued by rumors and accusations of spousal abuse and multiple infidelities on Kevin’s part. There’s also The Wendy Williams Show itself. Did Hunter really threaten her staff, announce he was running things and give out ultimatums? Now, Williams must say something, but look for her to at least talk about her health but next to nothing about her marriage and the workplace.
Are Actors Jamie Foxx and Katie Holmes done? Did this super-couple fizzle out before they even had a chance to enjoy? The 51-year old Foxx, in public, never seemed to tire of telling the press he was single. That was no good for Holmes. She’s divorced from Foxx’s one time good friend and former Co-star Tom Cruise. Holmes kept mum to the press when asked about her social life. Other than a few pictures of the two walking on the beach and out to dinner, Foxx wasn’t trying to claim Holmes. Looks like enough is enough, and with still no confirmation of dating. Is Tom Cruise somewhere laughing right now?!!!
At the movies this week is A Madea Family Funeral, but did Tyler Perry let the cat out of the bag. Perry was on The Today Show and seemed to drop clues that it might not be over. The creator of Madea hinted that it’s time for Madea to get some rest as opposed to a permanent goodbye. Hmmmmmm. Meanwhile, Perry’s bringing The Madea Farewell Tour to The Met Philly March 20th through the 24th. And, as for A Madea Family Funeral, the movie co-stars Cassi Davis (The Paynes), Patrice Lovely (Love Thy Neighbor), Joel Rush (If Loving You Is Wrong), Rome Flynn (How To Get Away With Murder) Wrestler/Actor David Otunga, and Jen Harper (Greenleaf) and is in theaters this Friday.
Oscar winners, including Spike Lee turning his back on The Green Book, made another ceremony for the history books. First, our favorite, who we’ve been with since she was Brenda Jenkins in 227 with Marla Gibbs, Hal Williams and Jackee’ Harry, is Actress and Director Regina King. She won her first Oscar for Barry Jenkins’ If Beale Street Could Talk as Best Supporting Actress. Then Mahershala Ali made Oscar history by taking the Best Supporting Actor trophy twice and this time for Green Book, which also won Best Picture. Now here’s where the controversy comes in because Ali played Dr. Shirley whose real family claims the movie is fiction. Ouch! Then Spike Lee turned his back when the movie won Best Picture. Lee had been careful not to say anything publicly about The Green Book until that night. Lee’s BlacKkKlansman did give the filmmaking legend his first Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay, but Lee’s film was also up for Best Picture and lost out to Green Book. As happy as he was for his Oscar, backstage Lee said the ref made the wrong call and every time someone’s driving in a movie, he loses. Thirty years ago, Lee’s Do The Right Thing was shutout in favor of Driving Miss Daisy. Lee was able to give an onstage rallying cry to get out and vote in 2020, which President Donald Trump tweeted was racist. Meanwhile Black Panther, also losing out on Best Picture, did pick up three awards including history making Best Production Design for Hannah Beachler and Ruth E. Carter for Best Costume Design. It’s the first time African American women have won in those categories. Plus, Spider-Man: Into The Spider-verse delivered Co-Producer/Director Peter Ramsey, the first African American director nominated for animated feature, an Oscar.
Blair Underwood in his underwear?!!!! Yes! He’s Alfre Woodard’s leading man in her new Netflix movie Juanita. Woodard plays the title character and is fed up with her routine life of work and kids. She tries to escape to her fantasy world. That’s where an underwear-clad Underwood comes in. He’s part of Woodard’s (Juanita’s) fantasy, but before we can see what happens, the children pop her back into reality. This all leads Juanita to board a bus to see what life holds for her. Juanita begins streaming on Netflix March 8th.
Idris Elba will mark his first time hosting NBC’s Saturday Night Live with Musical Guest Khalid on March 9th. Elba also has his Netflix comedy series debuting next month as well. The reigning People magazine Sexiest Man Alive is the co-creator and co-executive producer of Turn Up Charlie. Elba plays Charlie, a bachelor and DJ who reluctantly becomes a “manny” to a friend’s problem child daughter Turn Up Charlie will begin streaming on Friday, March 15th. And, this summer, Elba will team up with Dwayne The Rock Johnson for The Fast And The Furious spinoff. Hobbs And Shaw is the first spinoff from this franchise, and Elba will play a villain. Hobbs And Shaw will hit theaters this July.
The three generations of The Red Table Talk cover the March issue of Essence magazine. For Women’s History Month, its Adrienne Banfield-Jones (grandmother), Jada Pinkett Smith (mother) and Willow Smith (daughter) all sharing the cover.
A Grammy Celebration For The Queen Of Soul, a CBS tribute special hosted by Tyler Perry. They’ll be appearances by President Barack Obama, Celine Dion, Quincy Jones, John Legend, Barbara Streisand, Willie Nelson, Tony Bennett and Smokey Robinson. Performances include Sza & Alicia Keys on Daydreaming; Patti LaBelle on Call Me; Andra Day & Fantasia on (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman; and Franklin’s silver screen portrayer Jennifer Hudson (Respect: The Aretha Franklin Story) with Think. Aretha! A Grammy Celebration For The Queen Of Soul airs on CBS Sunday, March 10th.
Next, Smokey Robinson and Cedric The Entertainer (CBS’s The Neighborhood) will host a Grammy special entitled Motown 60: A Grammy Celebration. Performers include Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, John Legend, Boyz II Men, Chloe X Halle, Ne-Yo and Thelma Houston. The 60th Anniversary Motown special airs Sunday, April 21st at 8pm on CBS.
The 50th Anniversary of The NAACP Image Awards will be celebrated on TV One. Netflix garnered 22 nods followed by HBO with 20 nominations, ABC grabbed 18 and Marvel took 13. 14 nominations went to the billion dollar box office champion Black Panther. Writer/Director Ryan Coogler and Lead Actor Chadwick Boseman are not only nominated in their categories, but they’re also in the running for Entertainer Of The Year with Beyonce, Regina King and LeBron James. Donald Glover has five nominations spread amongst his work as Childish Gambino with his Grammy winner This Is America getting two nods, and as actor/producer/director getting three nominations for his F/X show Atlanta. Congresswoman Maxine Waters will receive the NAACP Chairman’s Award for public service. The Golden Anniversary Of The NAACP Image Awards will air on TV One Saturday, March 30th.
Lupita Nyong’o is on the covers of both US and Marie Claire magazines. The Oscar winner and her Black Panther Co-star Winston Duke head the cast of Oscar Winner Jordan Peele’s new film Us. Nyong’o and Duke play a married couple who take their two children to a beach house on vacation only to be confronted by the entire family’s look a likes (doppelgangers) who are also in the neighborhood. Us hits theaters Friday, March 22nd.
Sunday, March 3rd marks the return of Uncensored and UnSung on TV One. UnSung will feature Shirley Murdock, Adina Howard, The Jets, Crystal Waters, Lloyd, Kenny Lattimore, Gospel Artist Tasha Cobbs-Leonard and Glenn Jones. Meanwhile, Uncensored will feature Fantasia, Ne-Yo, Tasha Smith, Reality Star Tami Roman, Naturi Naughton, Jermaine Dupri and Kirk Franklin. Both shows’ season premieres air this Sunday, March 3rd with Unsung premiering at 9pm and Uncensored at 10pm on TV One.
Check out who’s coming to town:
Saturday, March 9th – Tony Toni Tone’ & Jody Watley in concert at The Keswick Theater, Glenside, Pa. For tickets and information log onto keswicktheater.com/events/all.
Saturday, March 16th – Comedian JB Smoove at the Parx Casino in Bensalem. For tickets and information log onto parxcasino.com/xcitecenter.
Wednesday, March 20th – Sunday, March 24th– Madea’s Farewell starring Tyler Perry at The Met Philly, Broad & Poplar Streets. For tickets and information log onto ticketmaster.com
Friday, March 22nd and Saturday, March 23rd– Lionel Richie in concert at The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City. Log onto ticketmaster.com for tickets and information.
Saturday, March 30th– Mariah Carey in concert at The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City. Log onto ticketmaster.com for tickets and information.
Friday, April 26th – The New Stylistics featuring Russell Thompkins, Jr., The Manhattans featuring Gerald Alston and The Delfonics featuring William Hart in concert at The Keswick Theater, Glenside, Pa. For tickets and information log onto keswicktheater.com/events/all.
Friday, May 3rd – Wayne Brady at the Parx Casino in Bensalem. For Tickets and information log onto parxcasino.com/xcitecenter
Friday, May 10th – The Mother’s Day Music Festival Weekend starring The Whispers & The Force MD’s at Caesar’s Circus Maximus Theater in Atlantic City. Tickets go on sale this Friday, February 1st. For more information log onto ppshows.com and for tickets log onto ticketmaster.com.
Saturday, May 11th – The Mother’s Day Music Festival Weekend starring Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, Kem, Al B. Sure and Christopher Williams at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. Tickets go on sale this Friday, February 1st. For more information log onto ppshows.com and for tickets log onto ticketmaster.com.
Sunday, May 12th – The Mother’s Day Music Festival Weekend starring After 7 and Dru Hill at Tropicana Showroom Theater in Atlantic City. Tickets are on sale now. For more information log onto ppshows.com and for tickets log onto ticketmaster.com.
Thursday, June 6th – One Nation Under A Groove-George Clinton’s Farewell Tour with Parliament-Funkadelic at the Franklin Music Hall, formerly The Electric Factory, 421 North 7th Street. For more ticket information log onto ticketmaster.com
If you would like more info please email me at PattyJackson@iHeartMedia.com or check me out with my midday reports at 10:30am, 12:30pm and 2:30pm during the day.